› A timeline of John Currie’s tenure as Tennessee’s athletic director,

A timeline of John Currie’s tenure as Tennessee’s athletic director.

Dec. 16, 2016

University of Tennessee board of trustees approves Beverly Davenport as chancellor.

Feb. 15, 2017

Davenport starts as chancellor.

Feb. 28

John Currie is hired as Tennessee’s athletic director after an in-home interview with Davenport. Legendary former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer was also interviewed for the job. Former UT-Chattanooga athletic director and longtime Tennessee athletic department staffer David Blackburn was not interviewed formally.

April 1

Currie officially starts at Tennessee after eight-plus years as athletic director at Kansas State. It’s a return to Knoxville for Currie, who previously worked in the Tennessee athletic department in several capacities.

April 6

Currie opens the “Hey John” email portal to receive direct feedback from fans. The first submission begins with “Please fire Butch Jones.”

April 25

Currie announces Reid Sigmon as executive associate athletic director and chief operating officer. Currie and Sigmon worked together at Kansas State from 2009 to 2013. Both are Wake Forest graduates. Sigmon comes to Knoxville from the College Football Playoff, where he worked as the organization’s chief financial officer.

May 4

Currie makes his first coaching change at Tennessee as he fires men’s tennis coach Sam Winterbotham. Two weeks later he promotes Chris Woodruff to the head coaching position.

June 7

Currie hires Arkansas assistant Tony Vitello to lead the Tennessee baseball program

June 20

University president Joe Di Pietro announces the hiring of Fulmer as a special adviser for community, athletics and university relations. The move is widely hailed as a burying of the hatchet between Fulmer and Currie. In 2008, Currie was part of the administration that fired Fulmer as coach. Asked by the Times Free Press what Fulmer believes Currie’s strengths are as an athletic director, Fulmer replies, “Ask me again in a year.”

Sept. 14

Currie restores the Lady Vols logo and brand to all women’s sports teams that wish to use it.

Nov. 2

Currie presents a revamped $340 million Neyland Stadium renovation plan to the athletics committee of the board of trustees. Asked by the Times Free Press after his presentation about his expectations for the football program that will play in the renovated stadium, Currie says, “A championship program.”

Nov. 12

Currie fires football coach Butch Jones the day after the Vols lose 50-17 at Missouri and fall to 4-6.

Nov. 26

Currie reportedly signs a memorandum of understanding that will make Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano the next head coach at Tennessee. But the deal is off before Davenport signs the memorandum.

Nov. 29

Some media report that talks between Tennessee and Purdue coach Jeff Brohm fall through because Davenport said no to the deal. A university source with direct knowledge of the proceedings denies that to the Times Free Press. “Absolutely not true at all,” the source says.

Nov. 30

Currie flies to Los Angeles to meet Washington State coach Mike Leach.

Dec. 1

Currie is “suspended” by Tennessee and Fulmer is named the acting athletic director. Davenport offers few details as Fulmer is introduced in a tense news conference.